Electric switch.



C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWiTCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. H. [914- ,L 'l li i 2 a mi Z If .'5| a i 8 2 H HW Z g T 3 4 X 29 5 v 1' e e aria" mare.

. CHARLES J'. KLEIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, TO THECUTLER-HAMMER MFG. CO., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OFWISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

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specificati r ersr t t Pate l Application filed September 11, 1914.Serial No. 361,205.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN a citizen of the United States,residin at Mllwaukee, in the county of Milwau cc and State of Wisconsin,have invented-new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of whichthe following is a full,'clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part ofthisspecification.

This invention relates to electric switches. One of the objects of theinvention is to provide a simple and eiiicient snap switch mechanismparticularly adapted for pullcord operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter in connection withthe description of a preferred embodiment of the invention'illustratedin the accompanying draw ing, in wh1ch.'

. Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch mechanism and supporting base,with a casing therefor shown in dotted lines. s Fig. 2 is a sectionalview on the line 2-2 Fig. 1, showing in addition another part of thebase; and,

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the switch mechanism and bases.

The mechanism illustrated comprises in eneral a contactor 1 continuouslyrotatable 1n one direction with an intermittent snap movement under theinfluence of an ener storing operative connection with an osc1l-.

latory operating member 2to make and break circuit between stationarycontacts 3 and 4 mounted upon an insulating base 5.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the base 5 has a circularrecess 6 within which the parts of the switch mechanism are mounted. Thebottom of this recess is provided with a plurality, 1n thls lnstancefour, of equidistant raised portions 7 having flat upper surfaces andsheer sides and constituting stops for the contactor, as will appearhereinafter. The statlonary contacts 3 and 4 are positioned on oppositesides of the recess .6 between two stops 7 and a e preferably upturnedat one end, as at to lie flush with the upper surface of the adjacentstop. The eontactor 1 is preferably of stamped metal and of aconformation shown in Fig.3. It comprises a central ortion 9 havin fourequldistant radial ugs 10, two of w ich are extended into resilient areportions having at their extremities odset contact surfaces 11. The lugs10 are designed to serve as ratchet teeth and are engaged by a circularpawl member 12 having four equidistant and slightly offset pawls 13.

The member 12 is mounted concentrically with member 1 and is resilientlyheld thereagainst by a helical spring 14 having one extremity restrainedbetween lugs 14 on the'pawl member and having its other extremity bentat right angles in the directlon of its axis to be received within amarginal aperture 15 of the oscillatory operating member 2. Thisoperating member has a radial extension 16 with a suitable catch otherextremity bent diametrically to rest within a slot 19 of a threadedspindle 20, which passes through the base 5 and the aforesaid parts ofthe switch mechanism for securing the same in position on the base. Anut 21 threads on the end of the spindle 20 to revent disarrangement ofthe movable e ements. As shown the operating member 2 is provided withthree of the marginal apertures 15, in any one of which the upturned endof the spring 14 is adaptedto fit. By this means the normal tension ofthe springs 14 and 18 may be easily regulated.

An insulating base 22 is also provided as complementary to the base 5and is attached thereto for completing the inclosure of the switchmechanism. Both bases are rovided with cutaway portions 23 at one si ewhich give clearance for the operating arm 16-and the pull *chain 17. toswing as the switch mechanism is actuated. The stationary contacts 3 and4 are held in position by integral riveting as shown in'Fig. 2 and thecontact 4 is connected with a binding post 24 at one side of theinsulating base while the other contact is connected by a screw passingthrough an aperture 25 to a second binding spring 14 and consequentlytendsto rotate.

v The operating member 2 rotates clockwise and thereby tensions both thespring 18 and the contactor 1 also in aclockwise direction.

The latter is restrained against movement,

however, by the abutment of, the offset contact surfaces'll against theupturned ends 8 of the stationary contacts. This restraint of thecontactor is maintained until the energy stored in the spring 14 issufficient to overcome the resilient and inherently releasable lock ofthe contactor, whereupon the same is snapped; ahead until the contactsurfaces 11 abut the next pair of raised insulating stops 7 on the base5, during which time the energy stored in the spring 14' is.substantially dissipated. It is to be noted that during thi'sfmovementof the contactor circuit 'is broken from the stationary cont-acts 20vthe influenceof the spring 18, which also, by

the other spring. 14, turns the pawl member 12 in acounter-clockwisedirection and backratc-hets the pawls 13 over theradial lugs 10' of the contactor. During the initial portion of thisreturning movement,the contactor is kitself moved slightly in'acounter-clockwise direction until the depressed. ends 11 thereof abutthe insulation of the raised stops 7 which brace the bent ends 8 of thestationary contacts. The next operation of the switch causes thecontactor to rotate aheadwith a snap, movement in a manner identical tothat des'cribed, but this time to bridge the stationary (contacts: andclose circuit. It is to be notedthat thestationary contacts 3, 4c

are maintained bright by a wiping engagement with the contactor bothduring the making and breaking of circuit and that by providing theupturned ends 8 of the stationary contactsit is insured that circuitremains closed until accelerated movement ofthe contactor actuallybegins. Further more, the break is very wide and the mechanism isaccordingly capable ,of-etlicient'use for controlling currents. ofrelatively high value.

As shown in Fig. 1, a suitable metallic casing comprising acap 28andshell 2-9 is provided for housing the switch mechanism. In practice,the cord 17 'islpreferably of a non-conducting material so that specialinsulation of the cord from the switch mechanism'is renderedunnecessary.

What I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1'. In anelectric" switch, in combination, a stationary contact, a cooperatingrotatable contact having parts tendin to hold the same in circuit makingand fireaking position, an oscillatable ratchet member engagin saidcontact member to rotate the same 'umdir'ectionally for circuit makingand breaking, an operating member and an energy storin operativeconnection between saidoperating member and said ratchet member toinsure a snap movement of sa1d rotatable contact upon leaving andreingaging said stationary contact.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a stationary contact, a.rotatable cooperating contact having parts tending to lockhthe same inand out of engagement with said stationary contact, an oscillatableratchet member engaging said rotatable contact, to rotate the sameunidirectionally for engagement and disengagement of said stationarycontact, an oscillatable operating member and an energy storingoperative connection between said operating member and said ratchetmember to insure snap movement of engaging said stationary contact.

3. In a pull switch, in combination, a stationary contact, a rotatablecooperating contact having parts to releasably lock the same in and outof engagement with said stationary contact, an oscillating ratchetmember 'coacting' with said rotatable contactto rotatethesameunidirectionally for engagement and disengagament of'said sta-,

tionary contact, an oscillatable operating member, an energy storingoperat ve. 'con motion between said operating member and said ratchetmember efi'ectlve by its stored energy to overpower the locking parts ofsaid rotatable contact and a' returnspring for saidoperating member.

'member and said ratchet member comprismg an energy storingspring coiledabout said stud and a return spring for said operating member alsocoiled about said stud,

said operating member when moved against said rotating member in leavingand rethe action of its return spring effecting through said'connectingspring and ratchet member a snap movement of said rotating saidstationary contact.

5. In an electric switch, the combination contact'both when leaving andree'ngaging with arotatable Contact, of an operating member therefor, anenergy storing con--- nectiontherebetween and a base having a pluralityof conducting and non-conducting bearing surfaces for said contactdisposed alternately in a common plane and each terminating in arelatively abrupt shoulder to releasably restrain operation of saidcontact member pending storage of energy 1n said connectlon sufficientto effect release of said contact and movement thereof crating membertherefor, an energy storing connection therebetween and a base having aplurality of conducting and non-conducting bearing surfaces for theextension of said contact disposed alternately in a common plane andeach terminating in a relatively abrupt shoulder, cooperating with saidcontact extension to releasably restrain operation of said contactpending storage of energy in said connection suflicient to effectrelease of said contact and movement thereof with a snap action forengagement'with said conducting and non-conducting surfaces alternately.

7. In an electric switch, the combination with a rotatable contact, anoscillatable ratchet member for engaging said contact to rotate the sameunidirectionally, an operating member, an energy storing operativeconnection between said ratchet member and said operating member and abase having a plurality of conductingand nonconducting bearing surfacesfor said contact disposed alternately in a common plane and eachterminating in a relatively abrupt shoulder to releasably restrainoperation of sa d contact pending storage of energy in said connectionsufficient to effect release of said contact and movement thereof with asnap action.

8. In an electric switch, in combination, a rotatable contact havingresilient extensions on opposite sides of its pivot, an oscillatableratchet member for engaging said contact to rotate the sameun1d1rectionally,=-a pull operating member, an energy storing operativeconnection between said ratchet member and said operating member and abase having a plurality of conducting and non-conducting bearingsurfaces for the extensions of said contact disposed alternately in acommon plane and each terminating in a relatively abrupt shoulderrequiring deflection of the resilient extensions of said contact formovement of the latter between adjacent bearing surfaces. and therebyrestraining operation of said contact pending storage of energy in saidconnection sufiicient to insure such movements of said contact with asnap action.

9. In a pull switch, in combination, a

base, a contact fixed thereon, a stud fixed to said base, a contactrotatably mounted upon said stud to cooperate with said stationarycontact and having parts tending to restrain the same in circuit makingand breaking positions, a ratchet member oscillatably mounted on saidstud to engage said rotatable contact to move the same unidirectionallyto engage and disengage said fixed contact, a pull operating member alsooscillatably mounted upon said stud, an operative connectionbetween'said operating member and said ratchet member comprising anenergy storing spring coiled about said stud and a return spring forsaid operating member also coiled about said stud, said operating memberwhen moved against the action of its return spring effecting throughsaid connecting spring and ratchet member a snap movement of saidrotating contact both when leaving and rengaging said stationarycontact, said contact having a relatively long range of unobstructedmovement for producing a wide break in circuit upon leaving thecontacting surface of said member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two Witnesses:

' CHARLES J. KLEIN. Witnesses L. A. WATSON,

TEKLA Bosr.

